Paper abstract:

The working paper provided the analysis of the technical and financial support rendered by Korea International Cooperation Agency to the Central Asian partner countries in order to overcome the difficulties and risks caused by climate change. Overall, ones of the KOICA's main project objectives are to reduce poverty and support sustainable socio-economic growth of the partner countries in Central Asia. Due to climate change that have increased the negative impact of global warming on socio-economic development of Central Asia, the KOICA's strategies have been also changed. So, at present the KOICA is focusing on financing the environmental related projects such as development of forestry to prevent desertification, to promote creation of a complex of clean ecological raw materials and to cope with other ecological related issues. In this paper approximately from 50 to 75 projects on environmental issues will be analyzed and compared within the countries of Central Asia. The findings demonstrate that the rural development projects concentrating on environmental issues with active engagement of local community are more productive and sustainable than projects without communities' participation. Moreover, the awareness increasing and educational activities on climate change issues among women and young people at age of 18-26 years have led to change in behavioral relations towards organic farming, rational water and land use and food recycling methods in rural areas.

Paper abstract:

At present, every country is not protected from the effects of climate change. Climate change can lead to various socio-economic issues of a country. The priority areas for climate actions and measures also vary widely across the countries of Central Asia. Most developing countries, especially Central Asia, do not have the financial and technical resources or advanced technologies to do so. But, inaction on climate is much costlier. That is why international climate change cooperation is the most effective framework which requires significant financing and investments. This paper studies how climate finance is able to promote the socio-economic development of the countries of Central Asia.

Paper abstract:

Abstract

The legal response to climate change in Central Asian countries is still in its early phases, albeit moving quickly. All regions have adopted climate change soft law mechanisms such as adaptation and mitigation strategies, plans of action for implementing policies, and sectoral action plans. However, Central Asian countries have not passed substantive climate change legislation. Instead, they have incorporated mitigation and adaptation goals into national development strategies, mainstreamed the issue across sectors, and implemented related targets that support climate change-related activities financially. In the region, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan have more consistent legislative and policy responses to climate change.

This study reveals that while countries' mitigation frameworks are generally more advanced, adaptation strategies have improved in recent years. Furthermore, this paper discovers that regional institutions are increasingly involved in developing and implementing climate change policies, with some subnational engagement as well. The financial allocation makes policy execution difficult. Finally, due to the significant implications of climate change in the region, this research proposes that adaptation laws with adequate funding mechanisms should be implemented.

Paper abstract:

The global challenges of environment and climate change are part of modern world reality in the XXI century. It is now well-admitted that biological diversity is interconnected with environmental issues and climate change processes. Therefore, the protection of biodiversity reasonable due to its services provided by ecosystems to humanity and this protection addressed to the genetic diversity within each species, the diversity of species, and the diversity of ecosystems within a region. On the one hand, these ecosystem services consist of provisioning (resources such as food, water, timber and fibre), regulating (affection on climate, floods, disease, wastes and water quality), cultural (aesthetic and spiritual benefits), and supporting (soil formation, photosynthesis and nutrient cycling) services. On the other hand, biodiversity protection is the response to consumer's society demands for biological resources that should last indefinitely. This also indicates that the environmental and scientific problems of biodiversity are interdependent from socio-political processes. Moreover, biodiversity is an ally for mankind in mitigating climate change and adapting economies to its impact.

At the same time, the United Nations declared the year 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. Nonetheless, mountainous developing countries in Central Asia are particularly vulnerable to biodiversity loss since such countries do not have sufficient financial resources and technological capacity to protect biodiversity in harmony with socio-economic development. Thus, this Proposal enlightens peculiarities of the UN Convention on Biological Diversity legal framework for Central Asian mountainous developing countries. The Proposal addresses legal matters of North and South approaches to biodiversity protection with a focus on financial resources and mechanisms within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.